Packing Heat: The numbers behind conceal carry weapon permits in New Mexico.

After hearing about a spike in Conceal Carry Weapon permit applications following the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings in December, I decided to check on the number of active permits issued around the state and built this interactive shape map. Just click on each county to see the number of permits and the number of permits per 100 people.

Interestingly, for my reporting on this story for the Santa Fe Reporter we found the counties with the highest percentage of Hispanic populations had the fewest numbers of permits per 100.

Word Cloud: Gov. Martinez's 2013 State of the State

Gov. Susana Martinez delivered her third State of the State Speech on Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013.

Romney accepts GOP nomination for president

Creating word clouds gives a whole new meaning to "wordsmith."

President Obama's DNC2012 Speech

My artistic interpretation of President Barack Obama's speech to Democratic National Convention delegates last week in Charolette, North Carolina. Word Cloud prepared using Tagul.com.

Michelle Obama remembers military families at DNC

Data visualization is quickly becoming a required skill for new media journalists. Here's my word cloud using text from the first lady's DNC2012 speech in Charlotte.

Clinton rallies Democrats in North Carolina

Another word cloud featuring text from former President Bill Clinton's DNC2012 speech in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Gov. Martinez delivers artful RNC speech in Tampa

I used Tagul's word cloud generator, a picture of Governor Martinez, and text from her Republican National Convention speech in Tampa, to create this poster. Word size is determined by how often its used in a speech or written document.

Geotagged: New Mexico Photos

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Honk your horn if you love New Mexico!

If you're like me, you're still planning your Top 10 New Year's resolutions. But, it's also time to mark January 6th on your brand new 2012 calendar.

That's the day set aside to honor New Mexico's Centennial.

At 11:35, New Mexicans are being encouraged to honk their car horns for 30 seconds to wish the state Happy Birthday. That's the approximate time President William Howard Taft signed New Mexico into statehood a century earlier.

We just found out that ABQ RIDE plans a birthday ceremony at the Alvarado Transportation Center. It will feature a Rail Runner locomotive horn, a whistle from a vintage locomotive, horns from ABQ RIDE buses and air and car horns sounding the approximate moment New Mexico became a state one hundred years ago.

“In 1912, President Taft signed statehood papers a few days earlier than expected, so most New Mexicans didn’t find out about it until a day later," said Bruce Rizzieri, Director of ABQ RIDE. “Now, we want to give the occasion the fanfare it deserves at the site of what was once the jewel of Albuquerque, the Alvarado Hotel.”

The ceremony will feature 1912-era songs from the New Mexico Territorial Brass Band, which will also play New Mexico’s state song, “O Fair New Mexico”, during the ceremony. Commemorative Centennial ornaments designed and assembled by students at Van Buren Middle School in Albuquerque will also be given out to participants at the celebration, as well as cake and hot chocolate.

After the ceremony, Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry plans a ribbon cutting to inaugurate a permanent display of photos at the Alvarado Transportation Center. They will depict the storied history of the Alvarado Hotel, along with a history of public transportation in Albuquerque. The public is invited.